Lent Calendar & Studies ALL 2016 Trips ASP Winter Relief. The

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1 Lent Calendar & Studies ALL 2016 Trips ASP Winter Relief February 2016 Volume 2, No. 1 The Octag n Severna Park United Methodist Church News Contents Finding Our Way Again 1 Blood Drive 2 VIM Team Leads 2 Lent Calendar 2 Lent Studies 2 Lent for Families 3 Holy Week Gallery 3 ALL 2016 Trips 4 ALL Feb. Lunch 5 Kairos Ministry 5 ASP ASP Auction 6 Confirmation Mentors Needed 6 SPAN Easter 7 SPAN Grant Writer 7 Winter Relief 8 WTS Students Visit Living Well 8 It s so easy to get lost in the midst of the chaos and ordinariness of our lives. One week blurs into the next and we can feel adrift and directionless. The good news is that Lent is a season that invites us to regain our bearings and reorder our priorities. is our theme for Lent this year and there will be several ways to live this out together. In worship, we ll be exploring what it means to put ourselves on a path toward greater spiritual depth and purposefulness. We are offering a variety of small groups for you to join with others to share in community and ask significant questions together, including an 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning class teamtaught by our pastors. We are also recommending several resources that may serve as useful guides for you as you renew your relationship with God. continued on p. 5 The Octagon: SPUMC News 1

2 Blood Drive Our next Blood Drive will be on Thursday, February, 25, 2016 in our Fellowship Hall from 2pm-7:30pm. Walk-ins are always welcome, but you can schedule a time with Dave in the office as well. Thanks for giving the gift of life! VIM Team Leaders The Missions Committee is seeking leaders for our 2016 trips. Contact Volunteers In Mission for more. VIM@ severnaparkumc.org 2 The Octagon: SPUMC Ash Wednesday, February 10 Worship at noon & 7pm Ashes to go from 8am-4pm in the office Sunday, February 14 Week 1 Sunday, February 21 Week 2 Sunday, February 28 The Way of Prayer Lent Calendar Sunday, March 6 The Way of Lectio Divina Sunday, March 13 The Way of Justice & Mercy Palm Sunday, March 20 The Way of the Crown Easter Sunday, March 27 The Way of Life Sunrise service & breakfast Lenten Studies Sundays by Brian McLaren, led by clergy. 11am Life & Message of Paul by Adam Hamilton, led by Chip Linehan. 4pm Mondays by Brian McLaren, led by Rev. Ron. 7pm Tuesdays Pilgrim Road by Albert Holtz, led by Rev. Lee. 7pm Meeting Feb. 16, March 1 & 15 Wednesdays Animate: Practices, led by Rev. Nicole. 6:30pm Young Adult Group Fridays Pilgrim Road by Albert Holtz, led by Rev. Lee. 10am Meeting Feb. 19, March 4 & 11 severnaparkumc.org/lent

3 February 2016 Lent for Families & Children Easter Garden The Easter Garden is a special Lent class just for kids. The class will meet on Wednesdays (February 24, March 2, 9, and 16) throughout Lent at 6:30pm. Please sign up in the Grow in Faith corner of fellowship hall or online to ensure we have enough supplies and snacks. Parents must stay at church during this class. Parents are encouraged to join the Young Adult Group or other study class that meets at the same time. Love Life Live Lent Love Life Live Lent is a Lenten study for families. Each day of Lent there s a short activity to do together as a family. Pick up a copy in Fellowship Hall. It begins with eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday! Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is Sunday, March 20. During worship there will be a procession with palms. At 9:30 and 11am the children will process into the sanctuary with the palms celebrating Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early to Sunday School. Children will come with their classes into the sanctuary and return to their classes to conclude Sunday School. Easter Extravaganza The Easter Eggstravaganza is Saturday, March 26 from 9-11am. Come and join us as a family for games, crafts, and treats. An egg hunt will happen at 10am. Please bring a basket. If it is rainy all activities will be inside. If you would like to help hide eggs Saturday morning at 8am, please contact Erica Benjamin. ebenjamin@severnaparkumc.org Holy Week Gallery We are looking for artists to submit paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography or other pieces of art for a special Stations of the Cross art exhibit/ worship experience that is being planned for Holy Week. The pieces themselves do not necessarily have to be religious in nature but should tie in thematically with the moods, emotions, and drama of the stations of the cross (loss, purpose, passion, forgiveness, mother/son relationship, abandonment, grief, fatigue, justice/injustice, capital punishment, love, sacrifice, etc.). We d love to tap artists from within our congregation but if you have any friends who might be interested in contributing something, please help us to spread the word about this exciting project. To find out more or to submit a piece for consideration, contact Rev. Ron. Additional information will also be posted on our website by February 8. ron@severnaparkumc.org. The Octagon: SPUMC News 3

4 Adults Loving Life 2016 Trip Calendar Norfolk Azalea Festival and Virginia International Tattoo, April Escape into a deluxe motor coach and head to Norfolk, Virginia, for a wonderful multi-day adventure. Highlights include touring the maritime museum Nauticus, The Battleship Wisconsin, a cruise of the Naval Base on the Victory Rover, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, as well as enjoying the largest Tattoo in the United States. The Virginia International Tattoo will provide an amazing spectacle of pageantry and patriotism as well as teamwork and talent. Witness unparalleled precision exercises that must be seen to believe. The Tattoo will celebrate the past 20 years with an extraordinary, once in a lifetime, cast of performers which includes the Swiss drum corps Top Secret, a Dutch Band on Bicycles, world champion pipers from the Highlands of Scotland, a massed choir of EPIC proportions, and the very finest musicians the U.S. Military has to offer. Limited spaces available! Sight and Sound presents Samson, May 19 A memorable day is ahead as we enjoy the retelling of one of the most captivating stories in the Bible. Some believe that he may qualify as the first superhero; killing a lion with his bare hands, or defeating a thousand soldiers. However, it s the faith he holds in his heart that is key. A wonderful lunch will be provided by Plain and Fancy Restaurant. 4 The Octagon: SPUMC News Infinity Theater and Deep Creek Restuarant, July 21 Infinity Theatre Company of Annapolis will be performing a musical comedy. The theater will be our destination following a scrumptious lunch at a crowd favorite, Deep Creek Restaurant. Washington National Cathedral: Stained Glass Tour, September 22 Join us for an introduction to the cathedral s brilliant stained glass windows and the stories captured in colored glass. A highly trained docent/ tour guide will provide the history and artisans involved. We ll also enjoy a family-style lunch at Carmine s, a legendary New York City family-style Italian restaurant now located in our nation s capital. Lincoln and Eisenhower, Salute to Two Presidents A delightful day is in store as we head to historic Gettysburg, PA, for visits to both the Lincoln Train Museum and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, featuring the home of the Eisenhowers, its furnishings, and the operation of their farm. At the train museum, there will be many activities including stepping aboard the Spirit of Abraham Lincoln for a journey through American history. A delicious lunch will be enjoyed at the Dobbin House Tavern. Pick up a Trip Brochure in Fellowship Hall for details and prices.

5 February 2016 continued from page 1 One of them is the book that is framing our season, : The Return of the Ancient Practices, in which author Brian McLaren invites us to look honestly at the patterns by which we live. McLaren says that too often we settle for lives where our deepest channels have silted in when there is an alternative, a way of life that is richer, more faithful and rooted in the ancient practices of Christianity. We ll have copies of the book available for purchase ($15) and in addition to the Sunday morning class, I ll also be offering the same class on Monday nights from 7-8:30pm. The journey begins this Wednesday when we come together in worship at Noon or 7pm to receive the cross of ashes and recommit our lives to God. If you can t make either time, but would still like to receive the imposition of ashes, our pastors will be available to pray with you individually all day long from 7am-4pm. Feel free to stop by on your way to work or when you are out and about. Yours in the Journey, Rev. Ron ALL February Luncheon Please join ALL (Adults Loving Life) for the Tuesday, February 23rd, luncheon featuring the talented musicians of the St. John s Handbell Quartet. Because of Winter Relief, signup sheets will be located at the Welcome Center in the narthex on Feb. 14th and Feb. 21st. Experience warm fellowship, good food, and a great program! Kairos Ministry Kairos Prison Ministry needs Men Volunteers for weekend retreat in Maryland Correctional Institution at Jessup, April 28-May 1. First team meeting is March 5 hosted at SPUMC. Contact Reid Reininger for details. reid@ severnaparkumc.org The Octagon: SPUMC News 5

6 Appalachia Service Project 2016 One of our most meaningful and exciting mission projects is the youth trip to Central Appalachia each year. ASP is relational ministry with families whose homes are in serious need of repair, and whose hearts are some of the most loving and caring you will ever meet. This summer s trip is from July 2-9. We think we re going to Kentucky but the exact location has not been chosen as yet. Youth who will have completed grade 9 and up are eligible to go. We also need adults who are willing to work with and love our youth, as well as the Appalachian people. Adults with some building/carpentry skills are most needed; we might do any jobs from drywall and spackling to roof repair to decking, steps and railings, and many more in between. Adults guide the youth so that they learn these skills and do a lot of the repair themselves. There will be an organizational meeting Thursday, February 18 at 7pm in the sanctuary, where we will discuss dates, fundraising, requirements, fees. We will answer any and all questions. We encourage anyone who wants to go on ASP to attend this meeting, including parents of first-timers who may have questions! If you want to go but cannot attend, please talk to Rev. Lee. ASP Talent/Service Auction Our annual Talent/Service Auction to raise funds for the trip will be Sunday, March 20, starting at 6pm. Items and 6 The Octagon: SPUMC News services of all kinds are donated by members of the congregation, and anyone is welcome to bid on these. A brochure detailing the items up for auction, and a display of items already in will be out in Fellowship Hall a few Sundays prior. You might see handmade quilts, pillows, gift baskets, paintings, and food items, so be thinking what you might contribute! This is an amazing opportunity not just for our youth who grow as they learn to serve, but for several Appalachian families whose homes become warmer, safer, and dryer. Thank you for your support! Confirmation Mentors Needed The 2016 Confirmation class has begun and now we are searching for mentors for these youth. A mentor in our case would be someone willing to love and encourage a middle high youth as they move toward deepening their faith and joining the church. You do not need to be a biblical scholar; the pastors/ teachers can field their hard questions. You would need to be willing to stay in touch with them, maybe send a card or goodie bag to class, offer to help with any classwork, and spend as much time as you want just showing them how great and important it is to belong to the community of faith. If interested, contact Rev. Lee. We can provide you with a packet of information and ideas. Thank you for caring! LFerrell@severnaparkumc.org

7 February 2016 SPAN Easter Caring Serving Partners Across Neighborhoods is collecting Easter Dinner food items. Please consider providing a complete dinner or a few of the items listed so that others can enjoy an Easter meal with their family. Each dinner will contain: $25 grocery gift card for ham and/or perishables 2 cans corn 2 cans green beans 2 cans carrots 1 box au gratin potatoes 1 can yams 2 cans fruit 1 box roll or muffin mix 1 box cake mix 1 can cake frosting 1 Easter egg dye kit 1 pack of paper Easter napkins Food donations can be delivered, by March 14, to SPAN, Monday Thursday 10AM 2PM. Any questions, contact Karen at span@severnaparkumc.org or SPAN Seeks Paid Grant Writer Serving People Across Neighborhoods is Seeking an experienced grant writer for a paid contractual position. Responsibilities: Conducting the full range of activities required to prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals to foundation and corporate sources. This includes researching, compiling, writing and editing grant applications. Qualifications: Professional grant writing experience and knowledge of the grant writing and reporting processes. Please send a cover letter and resume to SPANHelps@yahoo.com (subject line: Grant Writer) or contact Maria at The Octagon: SPUMC News 7

8 Winter Relief: February WTS Students Visit Living Well 8 We ll offer shelter, meals, showers, laundry, warm fellowship and most importantly the love of God to about men and women. You can help by serving as a host volunteer, helping with meals, transportation, laundry or purchasing items for the guests needs lists and so much more. Sign-up sheets are out in Fellowship Hall. Bingo Prizes Needed We also need some specific and popular Bingo prizes: totebags, make-up bags, make-up and nail polish, men s deodorant, body spray and after shave, sports team apparel and bags, $5 McDonald s gift cards. Donations can be placed in the box in Fellowship Hall. Thank you for the generous donations of Bingo prizes. Bingo is a very popular activity for our Winter Relief guests. If you have any questions you can contact Carolyn Heim at Severna Park United Methodist Church 731 Benfield Rd. Severna Park, MD severnaparkumc.org In January, a group of Wesley Theological Seminary students visited Living Well on Wilkens to learn more about the work of this important ministry of outreach to women in that area. This was part of a two week immersion experience that exposed them to the challenges, joys, and heartbreaks of urban ministry in Baltimore. House Manager, Cathy Wildes & Rev. Ron were on hand to introduce them to this ministry launched by SPUMC less than a year ago.